Evaluation of the Efficiency of Plasma Separation Centrifugation for Blood Clotting Testing between a Speed of 4,000 rotations per minute for 5 minutes and the Standard Method

Abstract

Stroke is a severe neurological disorder that can have significant impacts on patients, their families, the economy, and society. The treatment of patients with such conditions requires timely intervention with anticoagulant medications, relying on rapid laboratory tests to guide medication usage. The key tests for consideration include assessing blood clotting factors such as PT (Prothrombin Time), INR (International Normalized Ratio), and aPTT (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time). At present, the hematology and clinical laboratory of Saraburi Hospital has established guidelines and procedures for plasma separation in blood clotting tests. The standard method involves centrifuging plasma at a speed of 3,500 revolutions per minute (rpm) for 15 minutes, a relatively lengthy process that may impact patient care. To enhance diagnostic efficiency and treatment, a comparative study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of plasma separation using two different speeds: 4,000 rpm for 5 minutes and the standard 3,500 rpm for 15 minutes. The study involved two groups: 30 healthy blood donors and 30 patients receiving warfarin, an anticoagulant. Key parameters, including PT, INR, aPTT, Platelet count (Plt.), Potassium (K), and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), were compared between plasma separation at 3,500 rpm for 15 minutes and 4,000 rpm for 5 minutes. Statistical analysis of the results from 60 blood samples revealed no significant differences (p>0.05) in PT, INR, aPTT, Plt. count, and K between the two separation methods. However, LDH levels showed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.01), suggesting that red blood cells may rupture but remain within detectable quantities by the analyzing instrument. The comparable results of PT and aPTT between the two separation methods indicate that the faster centrifugation method can be a valid and time-saving alternative to the standard procedure. This has the potential to achieve accurate results and speedy test outcomes, reducing waiting times and facilitating prompt assessment and treatment decisions for emergency patients more efficiently.